Must See~£18
Colosseum
Celio
The vast ancient amphitheatre where gladiators fought, still the symbol of Rome.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 8:30–19:00 (earlier in winter)
Rome
Two thousand years of history on every corner, with pasta in between.
Plan your Rome trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Rome
Rome layers ancient ruins, Renaissance piazzas and a lively neighbourhood food scene. The big sights are close together, but the real joy is wandering between them and eating well.
- Where
- Lazio, Italy
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October; August is very hot and many locals leave.
- Approx. daily budget
- £75–150 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Rome cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–100a day
- Mid-range traveller£135–195a day
- Luxury traveller£270+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 32 Top picks in Rome
Must See~£18
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
Forum
The ruined heart of ancient Rome, with temples, arches and Palatine Hill views.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00
Must See~£5
Pantheon
Centro Storico
A near-2,000-year-old temple with the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00
Must SeeFree
Trevi Fountain
Trevi
Rome’s grandest fountain: throw a coin over your shoulder to guarantee a return.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Hidden Gems
See all 11 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Aventine Keyhole
Aventine
A quirky keyhole on a monastery door that frames a perfect view of St Peter’s dome.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open-air; queue for the keyhole
Day Trips~£10
Ostia Antica Day Trip
Ostia (30 km)
An impressive ruined Roman port town, far quieter than Pompeii, reached by train.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Tuesday–Sunday, roughly 8:30–18:30
Hidden Gems~£12
Basilica of San Clemente
Celio
A medieval church built over a 4th-century church, which itself sits over a Roman house and a temple to Mithras: three layers of Rome in one stop.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00; Sunday mornings limited
Hidden GemsFree
Quartiere Coppedè
Trieste
A fairytale mini-district of Art Nouveau and neo-medieval villas with fantastical carved details, hidden north of the centre.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open-air; always accessible
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Rome
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Luxury Value
Example listingVilla Colosseo Suites
Celio, Rome
Excellent valueValue score 88 out of 100
Rated 9.2/10, priced in line with similar 5★ hotels in Rome, in a central location.
From £260 per night · check current availability
Best Budget ChoicePopular Choice
Example listingTrastevere Courtyard Rooms
Trastevere, Rome
Excellent valueValue score 81 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Rome, in a central location.
From £100 per night · check current availability
Best Mid-Range HotelBest for Couples
Example listingHotel Fontana Trevi
Trevi, Rome
Very good valueValue score 75 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Rome, in a central location.
From £170 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 13 Where to eat
Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
A deli and wine-shop-turned-restaurant, known for exceptional cured meats, cheeses and Roman pasta dishes.
Known for: Carbonara, cured meats, wine list
About £30–55 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
Da Enzo al 29
A small, cheerful trattoria in the lanes of Trastevere serving classic Roman dishes.
Known for: Cacio e pepe, carbonara, artichokes
About £16–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Pizzarium
Gabriele Bonci’s tiny pizza-by-the-slice shop, with seasonal toppings and crisp, airy dough, near the Vatican.
Known for: Pizza al taglio
Under about £16 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Giolitti
A historic gelateria, open since 1900, with a huge choice of flavours near the Pantheon.
Known for: Gelato
Under about £16 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
A suggested Rome itinerary
3 nights Couple
Rome · Highlights
Rome in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Rome picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori, St Peter’s Basilica and Dome
- Day 2 · Tivoli: Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa Day Trip, Trevi Fountain
- Day 3 · Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, Pantheon, Borghese Gallery and Gardens, Spanish Steps and Trinità dei Monti
Plan Rome your way
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